Mbb BO-105S accident near Benton, Alabama, March 6, 1990
On March 6, 1990 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Mbb BO-105S (helicopter), registered N105SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Benton, Alabama. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. THE INCORRECT WIRE SURVEY GIVEN BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL PERSONNEL WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 1990 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Benton, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO-105S
- Registration
- N105SM · no longer on the register · serial 549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EMS/MEDEVAC PILOT WAS PICKING UP A PATIENT AT A REMOTE SITE. AFTER THE PATIENT WAS LOADED, THE PILOT MADE A HOVER TURN AND DEPARTED THE SITE ALONG THE SAME ROUTE HE LANDED. AT 538 FEET EAST OF THE TAKEOFF SITE AND ABOUT 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A WIRE WHICH CROSSED ABOVE A HIGHWAY. THE SUPPORT WIRE SNAPPED AND CONTACTED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED, STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE PILOT REPORTED SEEING THE WIRE JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE CREW RECEIVED A WIRE SURVEY FROM HIGHWAY PATROL PERSONNEL PRIOR TO LANDING AT THE SITE. THE HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO WIRES CROSSING THE ROAD.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,195 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,722 as pilot in command; 371 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,653 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 1, 1990; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,512 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Benton AL at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Montgomery AL
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from MGM, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.